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We predict the Euro will hit $2 US, probably between 2015 and 2018. We are predicting the Euro, over the course of this decade, will rise to between $1.75 and $2.00 US, about 30% higher than it is today. Governments there and here probably won’t allow it to rise much above $2.00 US. The long term financial health and fiscal strategy of Europe is sound. The long term financial health and fiscal strategy of the U.S. is not very strong. (our series on Europe beats America continues)

There's too many cars in Paris. Even with sidewalks, buses, bikes and subways, there’s too many cars in Paris. They need to shut off some narrow streets from non-public motor vehicles, widen and extend bicycle lanes, widen sidewalks and/or create pedestrian walkways from the streets, and make some bicycle-only paths or streets. The noise, the smell, and the intrusion of cars is unnecessary and ill served of society. (Our series on Europe beating America continues)

Today it is a new ballgame. America still claims to be the world leader. It has Silicon Valley. But it has not built the infrastructure for the Knowledge Society that Europe has. And America appears to be hastening its decline by wasting resources on various foreign and domestic follies.

Today Paris and France seem to be pulling ahead in the 21st century.

France is the world’s fifth largest economy. Paris is home to more Fortune Global 500 companies than New York. More than any other city other than Tokyo. At home, I only have to walk 20 feet, to my garbage can, to come in contact with a French company. (to be continued)

100 years ago, Paris and France was near the end of its Belle Epoque, years of wonderful prosperity and happiness. Great Britain experienced a similar period in the first 13 years of the 20th century.

France was the world’s center for art. It made most of the movies. And it had the largest auto factory in the world.

Then France, along with the rest of Europe and the UK, lost its world leading position in the new Industrial Age of the 20th century, hastening its decline with a destructive world war that sapped its finances, youth and manufacturing. The United States surged. Hollywood took over the movies from France, and Detroit took over the auto industry. Charlie Chaplin, who started his career in 1911 in Paris, moved to America. (to be continued)

Are some of the smartest best young talented Gen Y kids leaving the U.S.?

I was talking with a mother of a 23 year old son from a small town in Wisconsin I had just met. We were discussing Gen Y. I said, "When I asked my son how many of his friends had thought about moving abroad," she completed my sentence with the exact words Willie said, "All of them."

I have anecdotal evidence from these conversations with Gen Yers and their parents. But I have been unable to find any statistics on it. We probably are just ahead of the curve, once again, and the stats will come in a year or two. But if you find something, let me know.

During our Executive Leadership Institute a few weeks ago I started writing an article on why teleworkers are more productive. Here's the list.

1. Commute time eliminated. The averages 2 hours a day, according to DOT stats.

2. Teleworkers work longer than office workers. The is the LEAST best reason.

3. Less 'watercooler' conversation and other non-productive office activities.

4. Reduced turnover and training. This is a biggie.

5. Work flow time. Teleworkers tend to work when they are most productive. There is a work-flow, peak work time, and other work engagement time when people are most productive. At home, you can control it.

6. Healthier, physically and mentally. Stress, days sick, medical bills all are lower.

7. Better physical environment. People are more productive when they work in their optimum physical environment.

8. Reduced family and personal conerns. Hard to work when you are worrying.

9. Reduced meeting time. This saves 2-4 hours a week, or more.

10. Recruit the best people. With telework, you can recruit the best possible people regardless of their location. So you get more productive people in the first place. This is the top reason why we went virtual.

Photo: Odette Merchant of Nova Scotia Community College in Halifax at the Executive Leadership Institute in Tucson. When she and her staff are working from home, they tell each other they are working in the "Boffice" (bedroom office)

No data, just the view from the ground. The boycotts in Wisconsin are working.

Here's my anecdotal non-evidence:1. Lots and lots of Miller and Leinie sales on right now. 2. If they were not working, why would the Wisconsin Grocers Assn. put up such a fuss earlier this month, making headlines and whining to the press.3. Even if only a few thousand of us were boycotting, that would add up. Just one person boycotting a grocery store transfers over $1,000 from one store to another.

Photos: Left, 8 months ago I was a big Miller fan. Then Miller became a major contributor to Tea Party Governor Scott Walker. Right, today I've switched.

Home-based workers from Best Buy, JD Edwards, and American Express are 20% to 40% more productive than employees who travel to work. (Lister and Harnish)

Studies show a 15 percent increase in productivity among remote employees, and demonstrate that remote employees achieve results in fewer hours and often of higher quality. (Business Lexington, 2009)

AT&T realizes $100 million in savings per year from Teleworker productivity increases. (AT&T 2000)

Nearly 60 % of employees believe that telecommuting at least part time is the ideal work situation, according to a new survey on worker productivity. (The Hudson Index, 2006)

The more than 100 MDOT (Maryland Department of Transportation) employees who Telework have shown a 27% increase in productivity. (1998)

JD Edwards Teleworkers are from 20% to 25% more productive than their office counterparts. (Chicago Sun Times, 10/99)

American Express company’s Teleworkers produce 43% more business than their office counterparts. (Colorado Telework Coalition)

Compaq Teleworkers are from 15% – 45% more productive than their office counterparts. (Colorado Telework Coalition)

Industry Canada reports productivity gains of up to 50% by Teleworkers. (Trade-Marks Branch)

IBM Canada had Teleworker productivity improvements of up to 50% per teleworker. (IBM, Canada)

Boeing finds that Telework helps to increase their employee’s productivity an average of 15-30% and, “The quality of the work done has improved even more!” (Boeing Case Study provided by Telecommute Connecticut)